Reading: 1 John 4:13–21
It’s Maundy Thursday, the day of the instituting of the Lord’s Supper. This reading tells us that we abide in God and God abides in us. The abiding mentioned here is spiritual. And yet, with the institution of the Lord’s Supper, when we receive the body and blood of Jesus in, with, and under the bread and wine, we receive God. We physically have God abiding in us with the reception of Christ’s body and blood.
The reception of God’s grace powers our common confession of faith, and that common confession of faith draws us together to receive the Lord’s Supper, to receive God’s grace, which then pushes us back out into the world with our confession. Love has been perfected in us. There is nothing that we lack. We have confidence before God and before the world because of Christ. We love others because he first loved us. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Holy God, on this day we remember the instituting of the Lord’s Supper. May we faithfully receive this salutary gift, knowing that in it we receive You, that we may be filled with your grace and Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
Help us sincerely to believe
That we may worthily receive
Your Supper and in You find rest.
Amen! They who believe are blest. (LSB 634:8)
Joseph Highley (Sem IV, CSL)